r friends."

"True, O Calif! so we should.--Ugh! You ugly brutes. Tie our hands
behind our backs, would you?--Here, Mr Irishman, there's no need for
this. We didn't serve you so."

"Oh yes," said Moriarty. "Spies like to get all the news they can, and
then to run away with their load."

"After treacherously trying to murder the sentry on duty, and then
treacherously striking down two people in the dark."

"Hwhat!" cried Moriarty fiercely.

"I mean you, you cowardly hound!--you disgrace to the name of Irishman!"

There was the sound of a smart blow, and Denham staggered back against
the men who were binding his wrists.

A cheer rose from some of the fierce men around us, a murmur of
disapprobation from others, as Denham recovered himself and stood
upright, with his chest expanded and a look of scorn and contempt in his
eyes.

"Yes," he said quietly, "you are a disgrace to a great name. I am a
prisoner, and my hands are tied."

"Silence, spy!" cried Moriarty fiercely, and a dead silence fell.

"I'll not be silent," said Denham. "Val, if we die for it, repeat my
words in Dutch. But if I live I'll kill that man, or he shall kill
me.--Moriarty, you're a treacherous coward and a cur, to strike a
helpless, wounded man."

"A treacherous coward and a cur, to strike a helpless, wounded man," I
said aloud in the Boer tongue, the words seeming to come from something
within me over which I had no power whatever.

Moriarty, white with fury, turned upon me, but one of the two men who
held me interfered, saying bluntly, "Let him talk, Captain; his tongue
will soon be still."

"Yes, yes," said Moriarty, with a forced laugh; "his tongue will soon be
still. Putt them in the impty wagon, and bind their legs too. Then put
four men over them as guards. You'll answer for them, Cornet."

The grim looks of the two speakers and the horrible nature of their
words, which meant a horrible death, ought to have sent a chill through
me; but just then I was so excited, so hot with rage against the
cowardly wretch who had struck my friend, that I did not feel the
slightest fear as to my fate; and, obeying the order to march, I walked
beside Denham with my head as erect as his, till we were by the tail of
a great empty wagon, into which two of the Boers scrambled so as to
seize us by the pinioned arms, causing great pain, as they stooped, and
then dragged us in as if we had been sacks of corn, and then let us
down.

"Look he